Benefits of Trees to the Urban Environment. David V. Bloniarz USDA Forest Service

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1 Benefits of Trees to the Urban Environment David V. Bloniarz USDA Forest Service

2 Trees in Our City

3 Trees. Worth Our Time. Worth Our Resources. Part of community infrastructure Vital to community health Community legacy Positive impact on business and tax base Wise investment of community dollars

4 Trees. Vital to Community Health. Tree-filled neighborhoods: Lower levels of domestic violence Are safer and more sociable Tree-filled landscapes reduce stress Trees decrease need for medication and speed recovery times

5 Trees. Important to Human Health. 100 trees remove 32 tons of CO 2 /year 100 trees remove 420 lbs of pollutants per year, including: 100 lbs of ozone 83 lbs of particulates

6 Trees Save the Environment. 100 mature trees catch about 371,000 gallons of rainwater per year... - Less $ for stormwater control - Cleaner water

7 Trees. A Savings for Homeowners. Save 10% of annual air conditioning costs ISA Save up to 10% of winter heating costs

8 Trees Sell Houses. (At higher prices.) Each large front yard tree adds about 1% to sales price Large specimen trees can add 10%, or more, to property values.

9 Trees Mean Better Business. In tree-lined commercial districts... More frequent shopping Longer shopping trips Shoppers spend more for parking Shoppers spend 12% more for goods

10 Trees Pay Us Back. 100 Trees Over 40 Years... Benefits = $411,000 Energy Air Quality Runoff Real Estate Costs = $115,000 Planting - Pruning Removal/Disposal Sidewalk Repair Litter Legal - Admin Pay Off: $296,000

11 Plant Trees. Create a Legacy. Central Park, New York City

12 The Bottom Line... Quality of life depends on tree benefits Benefits depend on healthy trees Healthy trees require quality care Quality care depends on you

13 What You Can Do... Establish long-term goals for the community forest Fund programs for maintenance and care Support volunteer organizations Champion community trees

14 Trees in Our City

15 So, where did that information come from, anyway?

20 i- Tree 4.0 Using Technology to Tell the Story of the Value of Community Trees

21 ! Climate change! Storm water mgt.! Pollu=on mi=ga=on! Energy conserva=on! Carbon strategies! Public health issues Economic development Green job creation

22 Greater Public Scru.ny Instead of spending money planting trees on a causeway, we should fix the bridge on the causeway, --Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK)

23 h2p://s.muluswatch.org

25 How do we communicate the value of community trees?! Shame on you City of Kirkland! Government has too much money if we can afford to grade trees!

26 i- Tree: Demonstra.ng That Trees Pay Us Back! Street Tree Benefits in Minneapolis:! $6.8 million in energy savings! $9.1 million in reduced storm water runoff! $7.1 million increase in property value! $1 million improvements to air quality

27 i- Tree is Development, Dissemina.on, Support, & Refinement! Credible, USDA FS peer- reviewed tools! Public Domain SoOware! Accessible! Technical Support Putting USFS Urban Forest science into the hands of users

28 A Benefit- Based Assessment Economic Value Strategic Management Environmental Services Structure

29 i- Tree user base con.nues to grow! Consultants! Non- profits! Universi=es! State- wide projects! Municipal projects

30 Using technology to tell your story? Credit: Waldo Nilo Four Keys to Success

31 Pi2sburgh s Urban Forest

32 $2.94 in benefits for every $1 spent

Key Element for Success #1: Understand Your Vision for Using the Results! Knowing why you are implemen=ng i- Tree and specifically what you want out of it.

33 Key Element for Success #1: Understand Your Vision for Using the Results! Knowing why you are implemen=ng i- Tree and specifically what you want out of it. Credibility Quan=fica=on using sound science Trees are a favorite tool because every tree intercepts about 1,400 gallons of rainfall - - Danielle Crumrine

34 i- Tree General Project Phases! Phase I: GeYng Started Study area, inventory type?! Phase II: Project Establishment Project parameters, mobiliza=on! Phase III: Out in the Field Data collec=on, Management! Phase IV: Running the SoOware Repor=ng, interpreta=on

35 Chestertown, MD: linking technology with policy Energy $31,280 Carbon $7,760 Air quality $8,287 Stormwater $83,413 Property $103,020 Total annual benefits $223,750

36 Chestertown i- Tree Project Details! Project expenses $2,000 approx.! Funding assistance Chesapeake Bay Trust grant! Key Partner Washington College- CES! Project manager Local resident (re.red forester)! Inventory type 15% random sample! Data collec=on 40 trained students & vols. 3 - Days! Total project =me Approx. 3 months

37 Key Element for Success #2: Plan & Implement Strategically! Understand the advantages and limita=ons of i- Tree! Assess your capacity to complete a project! Iden=fy barriers and how you will address these! Develop an implementa=on plan, but stay flexible

38 Milwaukee i- Tree Eco Assessment EAB Structural Impacts:! 17.4% Canopy Loss! $221 Million structural damage (citywide) EAB Func=onal Impacts:! $243,785 less pollutant removal! $138,000 less energy savings (cooling costs)! $2.6 million reduc=on in storm water benefits (1996 study)

39 Milwaukee Ecosystem Assessment

40 Key Element for Success #3: Make the message compelling.! CraO your message for your intended audience! Make local, tangible connec=ons! Link tree benefits to themes and current ini=a=ves

42 Cha2anooga, Tennessee

43 Detailed, Species Specific Data Average C0 2 reduc=on = 200 lbs Average tree maintenance costs = $3.46 Cost of C0 2 reduc.on = $35 per ton 25% of Carbon emissions offset by municipal trees

44 Key to Success # 4: Make a difference! Share your results strategically with numerous audiences in mul=ple formats! Teach others how trees can be part of the solu.on to THEIR problem

45 Successful storytelling with i- Tree requires: 1. Understand your Vision 2. Plan & Implement Strategically 3. Turn your results into a compelling message 4. Make a difference

46 You can do it. i- Tree can help. Visit Presenta=on at:

i-tree Using Technology to Tell the Story of the Value of Community Trees Scott Maco The Davey Tree Expert Company

i-tree Using Technology to Tell the Story of the Value of Community Trees Scott Maco The Davey Tree Expert Company Climate change Storm water mgt. Pollution mitigation Energy conservation Carbon strategies